Altitude breathing suit



Oct. 19, 1937. w. H. FREYGANG' ALTITUDE BREATHING SUIT Filed March 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WAUER [1. FREYGAN v A ORNEY Oct. '19, 1937. w. H. FREYGANG ALTITUDE BREATHING SUIT Filed MarCh SO, 1935 2 SheefcsSheet 2 I FIGURE 4 mv'smzo Warm fitFRmm/w BY p A ORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,096,612 ALTITUDE BREATHING sprr Walter H. Freygang, Weehawken, N. J., assignmto Walter Kiddo & Company, Inc., Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of New York Application March so, 1935, Serial No. 13,846

8 Claims. (01.128-144) The present invention relates to aviators suits from the following disclosure are secured by for use at high altitudes and, more particular y. mes-11s Of this lnventlon- .it relates to a suit which envelopes the aviator This invention resides substantially in the completely and permits him to secure the air combination, construction, arrangement, relative necessary for breathing from within the suit. location of parts, steps and series of steps all as A person entering a rare atmosphere, such as will be set forth in detail in the following specifi- .is encountered at high altitudes, must employ cation in connection with the attached drawings some artificial means in order to maintain norand defined in the appended claims. mal respiration. The necessity for some artifi- Referring to the drawings:

cial breathing aid arises from the fact that the Fi ure 1 is an levational front view of one 10 oxygen content of the air-at high altitudes is form of device embodying the principles and very much lower than that of air at sea levelland construction of this invention; it usually is insufiicient to support life. It is Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the therefore necessary to supply the breather with sui of Fi r 1;

vl5 the deficiency of oxygen that occurs in the air Figure 3 is a cross-sectional viewof the sealed and this has, in the past, been accomplished by suit joint of Figure 1; furnishing the breather with pure oxygen in Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air small quantities. Therehave been a great many purifier of Figure disadvantages to this method and it has been Figure 5 is a t p e nel View of One of the found that it is preferable to mix the oxygen flutter va es o ur 20 with the air which is to be used, in quantities suf- F re 6 is a i cross-sectional view of the .ficient to maintain the oxygen content of that flutter valve of Figure airhigh enough to permit normal respiration, Figure 7 is a cross-Sectional view of the valve It is accordingly an object of the present inof Figure I vention to provide a leakage proof suit envelopur 3 s 8- eress-sectienal View Of the Valve 25 ing the-person completely and in which a pres- '9' of Figure 1. l

sure different'from the pressure of the surround- Similar reference numerals indicate like parts ing atmosphere may be automatically maintained. in all the fi Where y pp a A further object is to provide means which With reference to Figure the suit of the allow the wearer of the suit to breathe the exp t i v nt n mpr s a pair of trou rs 30 ternal air as long as it i s itable f r br athi I and a shirt 2. Both the trousers and the shirt purposes and to thereafter permit the wearer to are made some impervious fabric through breathe the air in the suit. which air cannot pass. The trousers are pro- Another object of the invention is to provide vided with feet which fit over the wearers shoes means whereby the air in the suit may be recirand thus prevent a y a age into the 35 culated and thus permit rebreathing, thereby trousers at the wearer's feet. At the waist line conserving the supply of oxygen. An aviator is of the trousers is an inner flap 3 shown in thus enabled to make longer sustained flights ure 2. The lower end of the shirt" 2 has an inner with the same quantity of oxygen which it 1 flap 6 corresponding to the fiap3 of the trousers. 40 now customary to carry for shorter fllghtg The free end of the flap 3 has attached thereto 40 It is a further object to provide means to ree P 0f PD F' other P Of the move the obnoxious carbon dioxide, ,moisture, Zipper is attached the free end of the cone and other deleterious matter from theair and figg ggi fi gg z i gg%gi g g i i fi ggg to replace the removed matter by pure oxygen. l

Ins another object to provide a means to auto The end of the fabric at the waist line of the matically relieve the pressure in the suit when 3 2 t edlge of 1 g i i g it rises above a predetermined pressure. ac ng 5 o z pper ac e ere an likewis se ves't ure th trous It is still a further object to automaticall zg i zi fi e r 0 sec regulate the introduction of pure oxygen into the The function of the zippers 4 and is to aid 50 Suit by permitting the reduction in pressure in securing an airtight joint between the trousers within the suit due to the. removal of the carand the m The method of formi g this sealed bon d tctO control means to admit more joint is best illustrated by reference to Figure 3. oxygen. A When the wearer desires to wear the suit he puts 65 These and many other objects as will appear on the shirt 2, pulls up the trousers l, and joins mosphere through a fitting l5. In the fitting the flaps 3 and 6 by means" of the zipper 4. In the pocket formed by the union of the flaps andthe outer ends of the shirt and trousers is placed a gasket 1 which is made of rubber or some other springy material impervious to air. The gasket has enlarged ends, the purpose of which will be readily apparent. The zipper 5 on the outside of the suit is next closed to enclose the gasket. The gasket is normally made somewhat larger than the space into which it is forced by closing of the zippers and consequently compresses and makes air tight seals against the fabric of the suit and 'of the flaps, at the points 8, thus forming a suit enclosing the wearer from all undesired contact. with the external air.

The shirt 2 is loose fitting and is joined to a headpiece 8, which may be of aluminum or some other light weight material. The headpiece is supported by the wearer's head through the use of rests H! which prevent the headpiece from directly contacting the'head.

Directly below the front of the headpiece and as part of the suit are the goggles I I, through which the wearer may see. The goggles are held close to the wearer's face by the external straps |2. Inside of the suit and positioned so as to cover the wearers nose and mouth is a mouthpiece |3, which is likewise held in position by the straps l2. The mouthpiece is designed to fit over thewearers nose and cheeks and under his chin in a manner which will effectively seal off this portion of the wearers face from the remaining air space in the suit.

Extending from the bottom of the mouthpiece, is a passage l4 which leads to the external at- I5 is a passage l6, through which communication with the external air may be had. The passage IB and the passage |4 may be put into communication through the medium of an ordinary three-way valve having passages I8 and 8 and equipped with a handle 20. The handle 28 furnishes the means whereby thewearer can control the source of his air supply for breath-- ing. The valve may be placed in the positions shown in Figure 2, and the wearer will then breathe the external air. If, however, the external air is not desirable for breathing, the handle 20 need only be turned so that the passage I8 is vertical and the passage |8- faces towards the inside of the suit. The air in the suit will then be supplied directly to the wearer of the suit.

When the valve is turned in the last named direction, the passage 4 through the fitting I5 is in direct communication with the flexible tube 2|, which is in'turn secured to the breath purifying apparatus 22. The purifying apparatus 22 is carried on the wearers chest and is supported by the shoulder straps 22a.

The breath purifying apparatus 22 is illustrated in detail by Figure 4. The flexible tube 2| connects with the passage 23, in the apparatus 22, which is divided into two branches. One branch 24 leads into a chamber 25. In the wall 25 forming the chamber 25 is a port 21, which is normally closed by the flutter valve 28, which prevents communication ,between the chamber 25 and a chamber 28.

The flutter valve 28 may be better understood by reference to Figures 5 and 6. The valve con"- sists of an ordinary gravity operated diaphragm 38. The diaphragm 38 normally rests on the seat 3| due to the force of gravity. However, if

side of the diaphragm than there is on the upper side, the diaphragm will lift from its seat 3|. In order thatthe valve shall return to its seat up o a decrease in pressure, guides 32 are providedke that the diaphragm will be restrained and guided to its seat again.

1 Referring again to Figure 4 it will be noted that the chamber 28 'is connected through an opening 33 with the purifier proper of the apps.- ratus 22. The latter'is merely a container for a substance 34, such as caustic soda, caustic potash or a mixture of both, which will remove carbon dioxide from air. At the opposite end of the apparatus 22 from the opening 33 is another opening 35, which opens directly into the suit.

It should also be noted that the chamber 25 is provided with a drain tube 36 and a drain cook 31, which will permit the withdrawal of any moisture which may have collected in the chamber.

, The other branch 38 with which the flexible tube 2| communicates opens into a chamber 38, wall 48 of which has a port, which in turn is provided with a flutter valve 42, similar to the After the air in the suit has been used and' purified a few times, most of the oxygen in the air will have been removed. In order to overcome this deficiency and keep the oxygen content of the air up to normal, more oxygen must be added. This is accomplished by introducing pure oxygen into the suit through the tube 44, whose discharge end is located adjacent the opening 5 from the purifier, in order that the and oxygen may mix before being drawn int ough the chamber 43.

The tube 4 enters the shirt 2 through an air tight fitting 5. Leading from a container of pure oxygen 48 is a tube 41, which connects the container and the tube 44. Interposed between the container/and the tube 41 is a pressure-regulating valve 48 of the usual commercial type. The valve 48 permits the extremely high pressure in the container 46 to be reduced to a pressure of a few pounds, so that it may be fed slowly into the suit.

Located in the tube 44 is a valve 48 which automatically opens to admit oxygen when it is needed, but which otherwise is maintained closed. The valve 48 is shown in an enlarged view in Figure 7.

The valve comprises a casing 50, which hasappropriate flanges 5| to attach it to the fabric of the suit. The casing is also secured by the bolts 52 to a fitting 53, which is placed in the line of the tube 44. A valve seat 54 is formed by the walls 55 and 56 of the fitting 53. Just below the valve seat in the outer wall 58 of the fitting 53 is a. plug 51, through which the valve 58' may be removed from or placed in cooperation with thehigh pressure of the supply oxygen will thus act on the top of the valve 58'. Another chamber 83 is formed below the diaphragm, to which chamber the air in the suit has free access through holes 64. The diaphragm is therefore. at all times subject to the pressure of the air in the suit.

In the chamber 65 is a spring 65' which rests on the diaphragm 59. The opposite end of the spring 65' rests on a piston 66, in the chamber 65, which has attached to it a rotatable threaded stem 61. A handle 68 is fastened to the end of the stem, which is outside the chamber 65, and is the means whereby the stem may be turned. The spring compression is controlled by the position of the piston '66 with respect to the diaphragm 59 and, as will be apparent, this distance may be varied at will by turning the handle .68.

As the oxygen is taken from the air within the suit by the wearer, changed to carbon dioxide, which is removed by the purifier, the pressure in the suit will fall. This will reduce the pressure on the diaphragm 59 which, under the action of the spring, will push the valve 58' down and open the passage, so that oxygen from the container 46 will be admitted to the suit. When the pressure has returned to a predetermined amount by the increase of oxygen in the suit, it will act on the diaphragm to close the valve. It will thus beseen that as the oxygen is used, this valve will automatically replenish the amount in. the suit.

From the foregoing description it is readily apparent that when the wearer has turned the valve I'I so that he is communicating with the interior of the suit, he will breathe the air therein. When he inhales, the flutter valve 42 is lifted by suction from its seat and allows the breather to communicate directly with the interior of the suit. The flutter valve 28 on the other hand will remain tightly closed, since it is pulled down on its seat by any suction in the chamber 24.

Upon exhalation, however, the opposite will be true. The flutter valve 42 will then be closed and the flutter valve 28 opened. The breath coming through the passage l4 passes through the valve ll into the chambers 38 and 24. The valve 42 is closed, and therefore none of the exhaled air can pass through the chamber 39, and it therefore passes through the port, past the flutter valve 28, which is held open by the pressure of the exhaled air, into the chamber 29, and thence Y is provided, inorder that electric wires maybe introduced into the suit for such purposes as supplying heat to the wearer, heat to defrost the gog-, gles, radio connections for ear phones, etc.

The suit may conceivably through some mis adventure tend to become over-inflated, so as to make it diflicult for the wearer to breathe. In order to prevent suchan occurrence a safety valve 9, which is placed onthe top of the headpiece 9, is provided.

With reference to Figure 8 it will be seen that this valve is similar to the valve-in Figure 7.

The valve 9' consists of a casing 10 having an enlarged section I I, which is secured tothe headpiece 9 by the bolts 12. The wall of the headpiece 9 has a valve seat 13. A cooperating valve 14 having a stem 15 engages this seat. At the end 011- posite to the valve end of the stem is a dia phragm I6, which is held securely in a recess H in the casing 10 by a bushing 18.

The casing 10 has a series of holes 19 around the circumference of the enlarged section II. These holes are necessary in order, that any air which is discharged from the suit through the valve I4, may escape into the atmosphere. The

efiect of the outside air pressure onthe valve 14 V is counteracted by designing the diaphragm 16 of such area that it is exactly equal to the area of the valve 14 which is exposed to the external air pressure. The pressure of the atmosphere is then so balanced that it has no effect on the valve.

The spring I9 which rests on the diaphragm It,

serves to govern the pressure at which the opening of the valve occurs. The pressure may be regulated by the rotatable screw threaded stem 80, which is controlled by a handle 8| and which moves the piston 82 up and down. The stem passes through the casing 10, and a packing bushing 83 serves to prevent the entry of air into the chamber 84. It will be noted that the manner of regulating the valve is similar to that employed for the oxygen regulating valve.

tain the air in the suit at a pressure which is comfortable for the wearer.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the present invention provides a suit for altitude flying which maintains the wearer in an atmosphere of a predetermined pressure, which atmosphere is constantly being purified and replenished with fresh oxygen, which is automatically supplied. It will also be apparent that this invention resides in certain principles of construction which may be employed in other physical forms of apparatus without departure therefrom. It is apparent, therefore, that the form of apparatus illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of disclosure has been given solely in an illustrative sense and not in any'limiting sense. "The scope of this invention is best defined by the appended 'claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with an altitude breathing suit comprising an envelope impervious to air and adapted to retain a pressure greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere, of a source of oxygen, means to convey oxygen from said source tosaid suit, pressure reducing meansassociated with .said means, automatic means to control the admission of oxygen to said suit, means to purify the exhaled air in the suit, means to relieve any excess pressure in the suit, means to lead the exhaled air. to said purifying means, and a flutter valve ih said last named means normally preventing communication with said purifying means.

2. The combination with an altitude breathing suit comprising an ehvelope impervious to air and adapted to retain a pressure greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere, of means to relieve any excess pressure-in the suit, a source of oxygen, means to convey oxygen from said source to said suit, pressure reducing means in said means, automatic means to control the admission of oxygen to said suit, means to purify the exhaled air in the suit, means to lead the exhaled air to said purifying means, a flutter valve in said last named means normally preventing communication with said purifying means, and a second flutter valve in said last named means normally preventing communication with the air in the suit.

3. The combination with an altitude breathing suit comprising an envelope impervious to air and adaptedto retain a. pressure greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere, of means to relieve any excess pressure in, the suit, a source of oxygen, means to convey oxygen from said source to said suit, pressure reducing means associated with said means, automatic means to control the admission of oxygen to said suit, means to purify the exhaled air in the suit, means to lead the exhaled air to said purifying means, and means in said last means to permit communication with the external atmosphere.

4. The combination with an altitude breathing suit comprising an envelope impervious to air and adapted to retain a pressure greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere, of means to relieve any excess pressure in the suit, a source of oxygen, means to convey oxygen from said source to said suit, pressure reducing means associated with said means, automatic means to control the admission of oxygen to said suit, means to purify the exhaled air in the suit, means to lead the exhaled air to said purifying means,

a flutter valve in said last named means normally preventing communication with said purifying means, and means in said last means to permit communication with the external atmosphere.

5. The combination with an altitude breathing suit comprising an envelope impervious to air and adapted to retain a pressure greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere, of means to relieve any excess pressure in the suit, a source of oxygen, means to convey oxygen from said source to said suit, pressure reducing means associated with said means, automatic means to control the admission of oxygen to said suit, means to purify the exhaled air in the suit, means to lead the exhaled air to said purifying means, a flutter valve in said last named means normally preventing communication with said purifying means, a second flutter valve in said last named means normally preventing communication of the air in the suit therewith, and means in said last means to permit communication with the external atmosphere.

6. In combination with an altitude breathing suit adapted to envelope the wearer and maintain him under a greater pressure than that of the surrounding atmosphere, a container of oxygen,

a conduit connecting said container and said suit, a pressure reducing valve associated with said conduit and said container, a pressure operated valve in said conduit and adapted to control the admission of oxygen to the suit, an air purifier to remove carbon dioxide, a moisture trap and drain in said purifier, and an adjustable pressure valve to permit the escape of the air in the suit.

7. In combination with an altitude breathin suit adapted to envelope the wearer and maintain him under a greater pressure than that of the surrounding atmosphere, a container of oxygen, a conduit connecting said container and said suit, a pressure reducing valve associated with said conduit and said container, 9. pressure operated valve in said conduit-and adapted to control the admission of oxygen to the suit, an air purifler to remove carbon dioxide, a moisture trap and drain in said purifier, an adjustable pressure valve to permit the escape of the air in the suit, a mouth and nose cover for said wearer, a tube connecting said cover with said purifier, a three-way valve in said'tube, and an opening on said three-way valve to permit communication with the exterior atmosphere.

8. In combination with an altitude breathing suit adapted to envelope the wearer and,maintain him under a greater pressure than that of the surrounding atmosphere, 8. container of oxygen, a conduit connecting said container and said suit, a pressure reducing valve associated with said conduit and said container, a pressure operated valve in said conduit and adapted to control the admission of oxygen to the suit, an air purifier to remove carbon dioxide, a. moisture trap and drain in said purifier, an adjustable pressure valve to permit the escape of the air in the suit, a mouth and nose cover for'said wearer, a tube connecting said cover with said purifier, a threeway valve in said tube, an opening on said threewayvalve to permit communication with the exterior atmosphere, a flutter valve in said tube .to normally prevent communication with the venting communication with the air in the suit.

WALTER H. FREYG'AN G. 

